Last weekend, our team headed out to Sinsa-dong in Gangnam, a neighborhood famous for its stylish streets, trendy cafés, and endless flow of shoppers. On the surface, it sparkles with energy. But as we stepped off the main boulevard and wandered into the smaller backstreets, a different picture emerged — crumpled cups hiding in corners, plastic bottles resting under benches, and snack wrappers drifting like tiny tumbleweeds between parked scooters.
We weren’t here to make the streets look nice for a day. We wanted to understand the waste we were finding — where it gathers, what it’s made of, and what it tells us about daily habits in the area. The plan was to clean, observe, and learn.
Discovering the Hidden Side of Sinsa
We are each taking a different route. The main road was relatively clean, but the narrow alleys and hidden service paths told another story. Behind a row of busy cafés, we found piles of paper cups — some still half-full — tucked between recycling bins that had long since overflowed.
Near the delivery motorbike stands, snack packaging and drink cans were scattered like confetti from a party no one cleaned up after. In quiet parking lots, cigarette butts formed little grey clusters by the curbs. Even the space under the street-side flower planters hid plastic straws and food wrappers.
Each discovery felt like peeling back another layer of the neighborhood — the part that most people never notice as they walk past with their coffee or shopping bags.
The Stories Behind the Trash
Every piece of trash had its small backstory. Can the crushed energy drink be near a convenience store? Probably dropped during a quick break between errands. The greasy takeout container by the back door? Likely from a late-night kitchen shift. The pile of straws and cup sleeves under a bench? A sign of people resting in the shade before heading back to work.
It made us realize that litter isn’t just “mess” — it’s a record of how people live, eat, and move through a space. Understanding that story makes it easier to imagine ways to prevent it.
A Team Effort with Small Moments of Joy
Cleaning can be tiring, but it never felt like a chore because we worked together. One person spotted a hidden bottle under a bush, and another reached in to grab it. Someone else would sort the trash as we went, making the process smoother. We joked about who could find the “most unusual” piece of litter — a title that went to a strangely intact party hat we found near a construction site.
There were also quiet moments: standing in the shade, sharing water, and looking at the cleaner street behind us. Those little pauses reminded us why we were here — not just to tidy up, but to care for a shared space.
Looking Ahead
By the time we finished, the streets looked noticeably fresher, and the air even seemed lighter. But more than the visible change, what stuck with us was the sense that we’d gotten to know the neighborhood more deeply. We now know its hidden corners, its habits, and its patterns.
Our next step is simple: keep showing up. Each cleanup will make the area a little brighter, and each walk will help us understand how to stop waste before it starts. In the end, our mission isn’t just about picking up what’s been left behind — it’s about changing the story of the street, one small act at a time.
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